New Orleans Piano: Modulations, Groove & Improvisation

Welcome to this deep dive into the rich world of New Orleans piano, featuring insights from pianist Jon Cleary. In this lesson, we explore a range of topics, from sophisticated chord modulations to funky grooves and improvisational techniques. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced player, this session will help you refine your touch, strengthen your left-hand rhythm, and incorporate iconic New Orleans piano techniques into your playing.

Exploring Modulations in "Sonata Reg"

Modulation, or changing keys within a song, is a powerful tool for creating contrast and emotional movement. In Sonata Reg, Dr. John masterfully employs a single key change that stands out within the progression.

• The piece starts in Eb and modulates to D via a suspended chord, which softens the transition and prepares the listener’s ear for the key change.
• Suspended chords create tension before resolving, making the modulation feel smooth rather than abrupt.
• The return to Eb happens through a descending chromatic bassline, a common jazz and blues technique.

Understanding how these modulations work in context will help you navigate key changes in jazz standards with ease.

Groove & Funk: The Left Hand Bass Foundation

One of the defining elements of New Orleans piano is the strong, syncopated left-hand bassline. This technique is essential in creating the rhythm and momentum behind funk and R&B grooves.

• Boogie-Woogie & Blues Foundation – The left hand often plays octaves or root-fifth patterns to establish a strong groove.
• Syncopation & Swung Rhythms – Unlike traditional blues shuffles, New Orleans funk has a more syncopated feel.
• Ghost Notes & Rolls – Adding subtle grace notes or roughs creates a percussive, drum-like effect in the bass.
• Walking Bass & Funk Variations – James Booker and Dr. John frequently use walking basslines that outline the chord progression while maintaining a strong groove.

Practicing left-hand independence will allow you to maintain a steady groove while improvising freely in the right hand.

Chord Substitutions & Voicings

Understanding chord substitutions is a key skill for jazz and blues pianists. This allows you to take a simple progression and add more color and movement.

• 1-6-2-5 Progressions – A standard jazz turnaround (C to A-7 to D-7 to G7) can be enhanced with alternative voicings.
• Common Substitutions – Instead of moving in basic root position chords, try playing inversions that keep common tones between changes.
• Tension & Resolution – Using diminished passing chords and altered dominants can build more drama before resolving back to the tonic.
• Melodic Approach to Voicings – Instead of thinking of chords as separate blocks, treat them as a flowing line of movement, adding leading tones to create inner melodies.

Roughs, Rolls & Right-Hand Techniques

New Orleans piano is known for its percussive approach to the keyboard. Using roughs, rolls, and glissandos, pianists imitate the sound of a full rhythm section.

• "Rolling the Hand" – Dragging or rolling fingers across notes creates a fluid, swinging effect.
• "Smearing" Notes – Playing chromatic slides between blues notes adds a gritty, soulful touch.
• Octave Melodies – Playing the melody in octaves with fills in between gives a fuller, richer sound.
• Dynamic Rolls – These can be used to transition between phrases, adding excitement and drive to solos.

Building a Full Arrangement: Bringing It All Together

To truly capture the New Orleans piano sound, it’s important to blend all of these techniques together. When approaching a song like Such a Night or Traveling Mood, consider:

• Left-Hand Groove – Maintain a strong bassline, whether it’s a boogie pattern or a funky syncopated feel.
• Right-Hand Embellishments – Use bluesy licks, fills, and chord substitutions to enrich the melody.
• Rhythmic Variations – Experiment with different levels of swing, pushing and pulling the timing for a laid-back feel.
• Full Band Approach – Think of your playing as covering bass, drums, and melody simultaneously.

By combining modulations, groove, voicings, and rhythmic techniques, you can develop a deeply expressive and authentic New Orleans piano style.

5 Practice Tips for Mastering New Orleans Piano

1. Work on Left-Hand Independence – Practice boogie basslines and syncopated funk patterns separately before combining with the right hand.
2. Experiment with Suspended Chords & Modulations – Play a II-V-I progression and add suspensions to soften transitions.
3. Add Roughs & Rolls to Your Solos – Use glissandos and grace notes to mimic the feel of a full band.
4. Focus on Small Hand Movements – Keep your chord voicings compact, reducing unnecessary jumps for smoother transitions.
5. Listen & Imitate – Study recordings of Dr. John, James Booker, and Professor Longhair to internalize the feel of New Orleans piano.

By integrating these techniques into your playing, you’ll develop the feel and groove that define this iconic piano style. Keep exploring, keep experimenting, and most importantly—keep grooving! 🎶